Georgia slipped quietly away from the small crowd that had built in the barn. It was an exiting evening for all, as Rebecca, the head of Riddermark, had turned up with cargo in tow. G hadn’t really been taking much notice of the horse talk, she was more like a kid at christmas having been waiting for her own cargo to turn up, and was now enjoying it.

Its no secret that the unlucky-in-horses, 5 foot nothing young woman had been troubled for finding a mount for years. She had given up multiple horses for various reasons; but it all ultimately boiled down to the fact she was inexperienced, and timid. She so desperately wanted to event, and having a taste of it on the back of a very accomplished ginger mare from the stables of hesterfield themselves, she wanted to just be good. She didn’t want to get on and feel like her stomach was about to bounce out of her mouth, or become rigid at the slightest movement. What she couldn’t see though was her capability. She was capable of riding very well, but the slightest knock delivered a powerful blow to her confidence.

And then she found Magic.

Annie Stoke’s little retrained thoroughbred mare arrived just a couple of days ago, and G was absolutely smitten. She could stare into those big doe eyes all day, but there were other horses who needed to be tended first; Magic was being given time to settle in, adjust to her surroundings. Going into the field in the morning and having a short walk around the property in the evening. G hadn’t long finished when the Riddermark lorry arrived on the yard, so she decided to hide away with magic for a moment or two, as to stay out of the way. Let the others deal with after hours arrivals for a change, she was always the one left to do it.

“Hey, little girl” she cooed softly, opening the door. Magic was laying down with her nose in the bed of straw, snoring a little. “Are you a sleepy baby?!” She shuffled round her quietly, and knelt down besides the mare, giving her a fuss behind the ears. The mare didn’t seem startled at all, and went back to dozing on the bed. “Aren’t you sweet, we’re gonna go for a little ride tomorrow, how about that then hmm?” Baby talk, we all do it.

She sat on magics back for a moment, and the little bay picked her head up, and began investigating G’s beloved blue hunter wellingtons. She then began to lick them. Odd mare!

Paige scoffed to the air as she made her way down from the house. Noone was picking up their phones. A lorry had just pulled up; Riddermarks signature designs along the side. They've upgraded to a new model i see. Wonder if we can get hold of their old one..

It was late and she assumed everyone had finished and gone home. But the barn lights were still on and she could hear 4 hooves across the stone floor. It was angellica, busy preparing Joey for a ride. "You're a bit late out?" Paige quizzed, standing by the doors. "I just didn't want to leave him. If he doesn't get ridden today i won't have time to tomorrow and i don't want to leave the grooms to have to sort him out. He turns into an absolute pig. He'll have 'em on the floor." As Angellica bought Joey from the ties, a "Helloooo?" echoed into the barn. The horses suddenly erupted into song; a newbie! a newbie! Rebecca appeared, with a large copper bay figure scooting up behind her. "deliveryyyyy!"

"Becs! how are you? was the trip ok? i wasn't expecting you at all today."

The two women hugged, having been long time friends. Paige & Rebecca rode together as junior internationals. frenemies if you will. They had a longstanding partnership, Some of Broudein's best horses were produced by them.

"we're ok, my phone died. Can i use the toilet? im gagging!"

They put the new mare away in a stall, who tried to climb to walls to see her neighbors. The barn was echoing with grunts, squeals, pawing and bounding. Rebecca instructed her helper to get the second horse off the lorry. The bay mare was an exiting new prospect but the second horse was a bittersweet meeting.

The two ladies headed to the tack room to sit and sort out paperwork.. but when the doors closed, it just turned to gossip.

"this is unreal. I never thought i would see the day you and keith saw eye to eye. How are the kids? i'm guessing they're here too?" Rebecca was hungry to know what was going on. She had been Paige's best consolidator throughout the divorce. Business still had to go on however, and she traded happily with both of them, but had never seen them in the same place at the same time since.

"Its amicable, he needed help. And the kids miss him a lot. Were getting on better now, and we have a couple of horses together, which suits me. I havn't been able to do much since we closed Broudein. It's nice here, it doesn't surprise me what he's built. The plans for our farm were amazing, and i definitely won't question where the money came from"

The two continued their chat, eventually finding their way to discussing the horses. Meanwhile, Angellica arrived back from her ride out.

She had exercised Joey lightly in the indoor arena, and then took a walk around the floodlit parts of the farm. Joey was a wonderfully solid horse, Irish bred, and arrived a few weeks ago from Redmayne Park. He was an unexpected exchange; Georgia had sold her Chestnut mare Rev to Petra wyngaard, and Joey needed a new home. He was fantastic across open country, but his eventing career wasn't taking off due to his lack of interest in all this dressage. He only saw the saddle and would start fretting in the ties. They told us of how he once actually turned himself over onto the floor, just to delay the ride. So it's safe to say, He is going to try his hand at showjumping, and some hunting in the winter with his new friend, Dumbo.

Dumbo being the greedy weirdo he is, Had chewed up poor Joeys tail while out in the field.

He hadn't sweated up, and was standing rather contently in the ties, eyes locked on the tack room door.. any minute now.. any minute now... polos... yes.. His eyes swelled with anticipation, his tongue flying about the place, drool lashing around like a big lap dog.

A grim british morning broke out with birdsong and a wet breeze blowing through the farm, the sun threatening to break out through grey clouds above.. This was often the case; british summertime was only a little less damp than winter.

Rebecca and her groom had stayed up at the house overnight, to spend a little of the next day around the farm, before heading back. Abbie was looking forward to a potential lesson with Keith Forbes himself; but as showing dates fell, he wasn't going to be around. No bother; he phoned and promised to give her some help at the next show they were both at. It was decided to take a look at the new boy Syn early in the day, with nobody out of their stables yet, or in the paddocks. Cait and Tobias had just arrived, and were making their way over to the office when they spotted the dark bay and his unfamiliar jockey, followed by Paige and Rebecca cackling away behind them, all headed to the arena.

Cait lit up with a squeal; at first her bed eyes had mistaken the chocolate lump for her favorite boy; Drifter.. But this was the son they had been anticipating! She grabbed Toby's arm, who reluctantly grunted something about i don't go to that side of the farm, i don't do horses, im going to get covered in dog hair- But before he could protest he was following her, eyeing the perimeter for anything pint size, fluffy, with 4 legs and a bark. "I god damn hate big dogs"

"Morning!" Paige Shrieked across the arena, as all 4 met up, watching the stallion as he tensely trotted the outskirts of the large, open space. He very much floated like his father. They stood together, Toby kicking up the sand and not very interested, Cait scrutinising every move. Paige was just thinking of a plan for the afternoon. "Can you go and get drifty ready to leave, Hes had his breakfast, i left a pile of his travel stuff outside his door. thanks" Cait nodded and headed off, Toby following suit.

The sun eventually broke; today was going to be a good day! Cait had given the old boy a quick flick over, and put on his fluffy shipping halter. She gave his a kiss and a cuddle as he tried to bite her nose. Drifty was going to be missed by everyone at the stables. He had been one of Keiths GP rides for nearly 4 years on and off and they had achieved a lot together. But now , it was time for the next generation to fill some very large horseshoes, and everyones hearts.

As they made their way down the cobbles, Syn was coming back in from his morning ride; it was a daring moment as the two stallions met ; father and son - they knowingly touched necks and noses, before going seperate ways.

Sail on by REC, has been a part of my equus life for a good few years now and as he reaches his milestone title, he heads back to Breanna to retire. We hope his son, Syncopation REC, can fill his shoes. We have also recently acquired another of his sons, who is older and more experianced - Sand of fire REC. May the REC legacy live long!

"In soviet Russia, you do not ride horse, they ride you"

Black raven is black of body and black of soul. Had anyone known what a menace he would be they surely would not have agreed for the russian export to be bought! Unfortunately for him he does not understand english so the silly humans talk gibberish and piss him off even more. He rides, lives, and breaths, with flat ears and a death stare.